Ekit celebrates 43 years of Nationalism, Service and Brotherhood

ANGELES CITY --- The Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity, also known as Ekit, recently celebrated its 43rd anniversary with various activities in this highly-urbanized city of Pampanga, where the fraternity was born in 1968.

The Ekit 43rd anniversary celebration activities lined-up for the whole-day event in Angeles City included a tree-planting activity at the Pulung Maragul portion of the Abacan River, in partnership with the Angeles City Government and a Fellowship Night at the Entertainment Hall of the Casino Filipino-Angeles where Angeles City Vice-Mayor Vicky Vega-Kabigting was the guest speaker in lieu of City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.

A most significant event is the conduct of the fraternity’s First National Congress held at the Angeles City Library where the members adopted and ratified a new Constitution that would be attuned to the fast changing times.

The Ekit members partnered with the Angeles City Government for the tree-planting activity in support of its efforts to plant one million trees in the city held at the Pulung Maragul portion of the Abacan River. More than a hundred bamboo seedlings were planted during the activity headed and coordinated by former City Councilor, environment advocate and Ekit alumnus Louie Reyes.

Anniversary Committee officials led by Committee Chairman Bing Villarta said delegates from chapters around the country attended the anniversary celebration in Angeles City.

The Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity was born when four nationalist UP students, namely, Doroteo “Doti” Abaya Jr., Luzvimindo “Mindo” David, Joaquin “Jack” Gan, and Alfredo “Fred” Lansangan bonded together and established the fraternity in a sugarcane field near the Abacan River on September 1, 1968.

A fraternity founded on nationalism, service and brotherhood, the Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity has since grown with chapters in almost every part of the country as well as in other countries as its members migrated.

The Angeles City events capped the four-day anniversary celebration of the fraternity’s foundation that had been started on August 31 in Metro Manila.

Pre-anniversary activities include a golf tournament hosted by the Ekit Pampanga Chapter at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club in Clark on August 31 while on September 1, Anniversary Day, Holy Mass was celebrated at the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice kicking off the Metro Manila activities that include the turn-over of two Gawad Kalinga housing units sponsored by the fraternity and turn-over of four boxes of slippers & powdered juice at the GK Village followed by a Tambayan Party at the Ekit Tambayan at the Vinzon's Hill, UP.

The Fellowship Night at the Casino Filipino-Angeles was the culminating activity for the Fraternity’s 43rd anniversary that was highlighted by the presentation of the Second Gawad Sigma Kappa Pi in recognition of a member’s commitment to nationalism, service and brotherhood, the fraternity’s objectives.

Recipients of the award were Brod Jose Alberto “Joey” Tañedo who received the Gawad Sambayanan for his service to the nation and the cause of nationalism; Brod Dante “Pops” Gozum who received the Gawad Kapatiran for his dedication to the fraternity and its members; and, Caloocan Mayor and Brod Enrico “Recom” Echeverri who was awarded the Gawad Paglilingkod that recognizes a member’s excellence in his chosen field or profession.

Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity founders Mindo David and Dr. Jack Gan, who are both from Angeles City and high school graduates of Holy Angel University, were gladdened by the turnout in the fraternity's congress where the new Constitution was adopted and ratified as well as the fellowship night.

“We hope that with its adoption of a new Constitution after 43 years, the fraternity can now better adapt to the changing demands of modern times, especially in light of its fast growing membership,” Gan said.

On the other hand, David said that: “With the setting up of a national organization, the fraternity can now maximize the resources of its various chapters in the Philippines and abroad to implement bigger social projects that will benefit the poor in the Philippine society.”